Dictionary Entry: Reqlarity

reqlarity | rē-klar′-ĭ-tē | /riːˈklær.ɪ.ti/

noun | plural reqlarities

Etymology: Early 21st century. From Latin re- (again, repeatedly) + clarity (clearness), with orthographic rebellion via substitution of 'q' for 'c'. See also: qlarity, pretentious startup naming conventions, vowel shortage of 2024.

Definitions:

1. The practice of establishing crystal-clear direction at the outset, then periodically cutting through the accumulated sediment of corporate drift, scope creep, and strategic fog to restore that original vision.
"The quarterly reqlarity sessions swept away six months of meeting debris and reminded everyone why they'd started the project in the first place."

2. The systematic filtering of corporate bullshit, jargon, and obfuscation from business communications; the ruthless pursuit of saying what you actually mean.
"The memo underwent rigorous reqlarity and was reduced from fourteen PowerPoint slides to one sentence: 'We're late.'"

3. (pejorative, self-aware) A pretentious affectation involving the unnecessary replacement of the letter 'c' with 'q' in an otherwise perfectly serviceable word, typically deployed to suggest whimsy, innovation, or a casual disregard for orthographic convention.
"The rebrand reeked of reqlarity—next they'd be spelling 'coffee' with a silent 'x'."

4. (philosophy, rare) The quality of being perpetually transparent; radical, perhaps exhaustingly, honesty.
"His reqlarity at family dinners was admirable but made Thanksgiving incredibly awkward."

5. (leadership) The act of defining, with uncomfortable specificity, the behaviours expected of both leaders and their teams; the elimination of plausible deniability regarding cultural standards.
"The new CEO's reqlarity around accountability meant everyone knew exactly which behaviours would be celebrated and which would get you managed out—no more hiding behind 'cultural fit.'"

6. (strategic communication) The practice of articulating each person's distinct role in enterprise strategy delivery with such precision that they can draw a straight line from their daily work to the organisation's existential purpose.
"After the reqlarity workshop, the procurement team finally understood they weren't just 'buying stuff'—they were the guardians of margin and the enablers of innovation."

7. (narrative leadership) The storytelling discipline of positioning oneself as the uniquely credentialed guide who has traversed the same darkness the audience now faces, and can therefore illuminate the path to their triumph.
"Her speech was a masterclass in reqlarity—within five minutes, we understood she'd fought our exact demons, barely survived, and was now extending a rope to pull us out of the same pit."

Related Forms:

reqlarious (adj.) — exhibiting or characterised by reqlarity
"Her reqlarious approach to feedback meant everyone knew exactly where they stood, whether they wanted to or not."

reqlarity merchant (noun, derogatory) — one who peddles unnecessary clarification or weaponises transparency
"Don't be a reqlarity merchant—we got it the first time."

reqlarity theatre (noun) — performative transparency that obscures rather than illuminates
"The 47-page 'plain language' report was pure reqlarity theatre."

strategic reqlarity (noun phrase) — the leadership act of making strategy tangible enough to touch
"The strategic reqlarity of the town hall meant even the interns could explain how their work laddered up to the winning aspiration."

narrative reqlarity (noun phrase) — storytelling that makes the speaker's unique qualifications to help the audience undeniably, almost painfully, obvious
"His narrative reqlarity was so sharp you could feel the shared scars—we knew he'd been in our trenches and made it out alive."

Usage Notes:

While reqlarity aspires to the noble work of its root word clarity, the 'q' serves as a linguistic wink—simultaneously acknowledging and subverting the tech industry's chronic need to reinvent perfectly functional vocabulary.

In leadership contexts, reqlarity represents the uncomfortable discipline of saying the quiet parts loud: naming the behaviours that matter, connecting the dots between individual effort and organisational destiny, and claiming one's authority to guide through darkness by virtue of having survived it first.

Metaphor: Think of reqlarity as organisational windshield wipers—you set the clear view at journey's start, but road spray, bug splatter, and the accumulated grime of travel constantly blur the vision. Reqlarity is both the initial clarity and the repeated clearing strokes that restore it.

Synonyms: lucidity, perspicuity, calling bullshit, radical candour, strategic translation, behavioural explicitness, narrative positioning

Antonyms: obfuscation, corporate speak, synergy, "let's take this offline," opaqueness, strategic ambiguity, plausible deniability

Historical Usage:

2025 — Business Insider

"The consultancy promised 'reqlarity' but delivered the same old opacity with a quirky typeface."

2026 — Harvard Business Review

"Leaders who practice reqlarity don't just set strategy—they ensure every team member can articulate their verse in the strategic song."

2027 — The Economist

"In an era of reqlarity, the emperor's new clothes don't stand a chance—though his marketing team will still try to 'reframe the narrative.'"

2028 — TED Talk transcript

"My reqlarity comes from this: I've been bankrupted, divorced, and diagnosed. I'm not here because I avoided your demons—I'm here because I've wrestled mine to the ground."

See Also:

• Disruptive innovation

• Thought leadership

• Authentic authenticity

• Paradigm shift

• Circle back

• Touch base

• Hero's journey

• Strategic alignment

⚠️ Prescriptivist Warning: The Oxford English Dictionary has not yet recognised this term and likely won't until it stops trying so hard.